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Police: Tuscaloosa man set up co-worker who drove him home to be kidnapped, robbed at gunpoint

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Police say 22-year-old Courtney Campbell, a Tuscaloosa man, set up his co-worker to be kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint when the victim drove him home for work. He is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping for his role in the crime. (Stephen Dethrage | al.com)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- A 22-year-old Tuscaloosa man initially believed to be a victim of a kidnapping and robbery actually helped plan and set up the crime, according to investigators in the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit.

Lt. Kip Hart, the unit's assistant commander, said officers responded to an apartment complex on 48th Street east around 1 o'clock Friday morning. A 21-year-old victim and Courtney Campbell, a 22-year-old man, told police that they'd been held at gunpoint, made to drive to an ATM and forced to make withdrawals then robbed of their money.

View full sizePolice say 22-year-old Courtney Campbell, a Tuscaloosa man, set up his co-worker to be kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint when the victim drove him home for work. He is charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree kidnapping for his role in the crime. (Tuscaloosa COunty Jail)

Hart said as investigators looked further into the case, they determined that Campbell helped set the robbery up. Hart said the 21-year-old victim was Campbell's co-worker and had given him a ride home, but as soon as Campbell left the vehicle they were approached by another man with a gun who got in the car with both of them and demanded to be taken to an ATM.

After the robbery, the suspect made the driver take him to a location on Cypress Creek Avenue then told Campbell and the victim to get out and run.

After investigators identified Campbell as a co-conspirator in the robbery, he was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree and second-degree kidnapping. He was taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail and remains there on a $90,000 bond.

Hart said the investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest the second suspect.